Indictment against Former Minister S.M. Chandrasena

The Colombo High Court today (02) handed over indictments to former Minister S.M. Chandrasena, who is facing corruption charges for fraudulently distributing a stock of seed corn, imported under government provisions for distribution among poor farmers in the Anuradhapura district, to his associates.

After the indictments were handed over to him, who is a former Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and also a Minister of Special Projects, the court ordered his release on strict bail conditions.

High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne ordered the release of the defendant former minister on a cash bail of fifty thousand rupees and two personal sureties of ten lakhs rupees each.

This case is based on the illegal distribution of 36,000 kilograms of seed corn, imported at government expense, among his associates by influencing government officials, including the Director of Planning at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat, during the period from January 01 to December 31, 2014. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed this case before the Colombo High Court on June 12 last year under two indictments, stating that a punishable offense under Section 70 of the Bribery Act had been committed.

The former minister was arrested by the Bribery Commission on July 04 last year in connection with this corrupt act and was remanded after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Subsequently, on August 01 of the same year, he was released on bail by the Magistrate's Court, and this case, for which indictments were received today before the High Court, is scheduled to be called again on July 22 next year.